Liberal Democracy Index in North Korea
North Korea: Liberal Democracy Index was 0.014 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
0.014
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
175th
of 176 countries
All-time high
0.034
in 1897
All-time low
0.006
in 1948
Years of data
203
1789–2025
Liberal Democracy Index in North Korea, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for liberal democracy index in North Korea is 0.014, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, liberal democracy index in North Korea peaked at 0.034 in 1897 and was at its lowest, 0.006, in 1948.
North Korea ranks 175th of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 203 years of available data.
Liberal Democracy Index in North Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.016 | — |
| 1790 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.015 | -6.3% |
| 1801 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.016 | +6.7% |
| 1804 | 0.015 | -6.3% |
| 1805 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.014 | -6.7% |
| 1850 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1855 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.016 | +14.3% |
| 1865 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1869 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1870 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1871 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.015 | -6.3% |
| 1875 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.016 | +6.7% |
| 1883 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.017 | +6.3% |
| 1886 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1891 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1893 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.019 | +11.8% |
| 1895 | 0.025 | +31.6% |
| 1896 | 0.029 | +16.0% |
| 1897 | 0.034 | +17.2% |
| 1898 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1899 | 0.034 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.033 | -2.9% |
| 1901 | 0.033 | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 0.033 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.033 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.033 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.032 | -3.0% |
| 1906 | 0.032 | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 0.032 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.032 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.032 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.021 | -34.4% |
| 1945 | 0.023 | +9.5% |
| 1946 | 0.007 | -69.6% |
| 1947 | 0.007 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 0.006 | -14.3% |
| 1949 | 0.018 | +200.0% |
| 1950 | 0.017 | -5.6% |
| 1951 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 0.017 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.016 | -5.9% |
| 1959 | 0.016 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.015 | -6.3% |
| 1961 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.015 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.014 | -6.7% |
| 1974 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.014 | +0.0% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 0.014 is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.102, 14% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 0.014 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.3575, 4% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.016 | 0.016 | 0.016 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.016 | 0.016 | 0.016 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.0151 | 0.015 | 0.016 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.015 | 0.015 | 0.015 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.015 | 0.015 | 0.015 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.015 | 0.015 | 0.015 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.0149 | 0.014 | 0.015 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.014 | 0.014 | 0.014 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.0152 | 0.014 | 0.016 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.0154 | 0.015 | 0.016 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.0163 | 0.015 | 0.017 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.0243 | 0.017 | 0.034 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.0325 | 0.032 | 0.033 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.021 | 0.021 | 0.021 | 1 |
| 1940s | 0.0122 | 0.006 | 0.023 | 5 |
| 1950s | 0.0168 | 0.016 | 0.017 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.015 | 0.015 | 0.015 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0143 | 0.014 | 0.015 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.014 | 0.014 | 0.014 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.014 | 0.014 | 0.014 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.014 | 0.014 | 0.014 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.014 | 0.014 | 0.014 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.014 | 0.014 | 0.014 | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More social development data for North Korea
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 263 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 7 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 7 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 263 (2025)
- Sovereign state gleditsch ward, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of -7.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Human Rights Index vs. Electoral Democracy Index 0.024 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is liberal democracy index in North Korea?
- Liberal democracy index in North Korea was 0.014 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest liberal democracy index recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 0.034 in 1897.
- What is the lowest liberal democracy index recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.006 in 1948.
- How does North Korea rank for liberal democracy index?
- North Korea ranks 175th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is liberal democracy index rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Liberal Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 203 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent of suffrage, the freedom and fairness of elections, freedoms of association and expression, individual and minority rights, equality before the law, and executive constraints.